GMC, Chevrolet and 2 others defect petition DP10001
Fuel Level Gauge System Failure. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this defect petition about the fuel system, other on 27 model years (2005–2007). Opened Jan 7, 2010, closed May 23, 2011 after 16 months without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedThe Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles. Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall. Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind. Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year. A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
A Defect Petition is a petition from a member of the public asking NHTSA to open a defect investigation; the agency grants or denies it and publishes the reasons. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one closed without a recall. That means NHTSA found no defect trend it chose to act on at the time, or the manufacturer addressed the condition another way (a service campaign or a bulletin, which have their own pages). A closed file can be reopened if new reports arrive.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2005 Buick Rainier; 2006 Buick Rainier; 2007 Buick Rainier; 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer; 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer; 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer 360; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer 360; 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer 360; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT; 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370; 2005 GMC Envoy; 2006 GMC Envoy; 2007 GMC Envoy; 2005 GMC Envoy 360; 2006 GMC Envoy 360; 2007 GMC Envoy 360; 2006 GMC Envoy Denali; 2006 GMC Envoy Denali XL; 2006 GMC Envoy XL; 2005 GMC Envoy XL 370; 2006 GMC Envoy XL 370; 2005 GMC Envoy XUV; 2005 Saab 9-7X; 2006 Saab 9-7X; 2007 Saab 9-7X.
A vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs DP10001 a recall?
No. A defect petition is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one closed without one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is DP10001 still open?
No. It closed on May 23, 2011 without a recall.
Which vehicles does DP10001 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 27 model years: 2005 Buick Rainier, 2006 Buick Rainier, 2007 Buick Rainier, 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer and more. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.